What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
involuntary
Example
She had an involuntary reaction to the loud noise. [involuntary: adjective]
Example
The patient's hand moved involuntarily due to the medication. [involuntarily: adverb]
unintentional
Example
I made an unintentional error in my report. [unintentional: adjective]
Example
The damage to the car was unintentional and caused by the storm. [unintentionally: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Unintentional is more commonly used in everyday language than involuntary. Involuntary is more commonly used in clinical or medical contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between involuntary and unintentional?
Involuntary has a more formal connotation than unintentional, which is more casual and commonly used in everyday language.
